Melt the butter and sauté the carrots, celery, onions, garlic and banana with clove and bay leaf until the veggies are soft. Remove the bay leaf and purée the other ingredients. Then return them to the pot. Add the pumpkin, liquids and spices, reserving the cilantro for garnishing the individual bowls of soup.

Boil the puréed soup over medium-high heat 15 minutes. Taste and correct seasoning. Simmer a bit more until serving time or refrigerate to serve the following day.

Banana! That is different. Interestingly, I just came to see what was new on C&Z while my pot of pumkpin soup simmers away... so I'll have to wait until we've eaten the current pot to try this recipe, but I will be!

On a similar topic, I wondering if anyone has ever made a pumpkin pudding? My husband adores all forms of squash, and pudding is one of our recurring desserts (being without an oven).

Roast the pumpkin with the butter, then put in a large saucepan with the other ingredients, barring the coriander and soured cream. Bring to the boil, then simmer. Cool, blend and stir through the coriander, serve with soured cream

This soup keeps well in the fridge for several days, making it ideal for a wintery snack, but if you're going to do this DON'T mix in the corander. I've also made it with butternut squash which is fantastic - I prefer it to be honest. And I often put in 2 chillis, but my family don't like this, leaving more for me!

I'm with you Judy... just give me the sweetened condensed milk and a spoon!

My recipe for pumpkin soup is almost the same as above, except for the banana.... not real keen on them have to say.

The spices really lift the flavour of the pumpkin and coconut milk gives it a fresh creaminess._________________If you cannot feel your arteries hardening, eat more cheese. If you can, drink more red wine. Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end. Exercise is walking into the kitchen.

I love pumpkin and pumkin soup. I'm sipping some (a different recipe as I type and wait for the turkey to be ready).

Barbara- Is that recipe for pumpkin fruitcake one you'd share? I'm also a fruitcake fan. YES! Me. I'm the one who likes fruitcake. ...so there. :p_________________God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor